My thoughts on the U game, Bronco, Riley

[birdie702]

I supported Riley toward the end of last season. Unfortunately, he has been a disappointment. We have no chance against BSU if he plays all 4 quarters...IMO. If he proves me wrong then I'll buy lunch for all CC peeps in Vegas.

[stuckinbig10country]

The only story that I have verified is the story about picking lockers. O'Neil Chambers saved a locker for Heaps right next to him (not Apo, not Stoudt, not Van Noy) because freshmen were the last to pick their lockers. A defensive player took exception to it and ripped the whatever the placeholder was off of the locker, and Riley moved right in to that locker. Heaps never said a word about it, didn't even know it went on until I'm sure it came down through the team.

We all know Heaps only came to 3 of the 63 or so summer workouts between his freshman and soph years. Let's see...during that summer he got married, spent time with his family, and was dealing with his parents divorce. Yet he still worked out. Used a coach in the area he was located so that he could try and get some things done while dealing with some life changing events.

We all know about the infamous Iggy's press conference. This seems to be what got Ogletree all bent out of shape. Heaps was trying to bring what other high profile schools across the country have to BYU in hopes of bringing more talent to Provo. Should he have checked with Bronco before doing that? Probably, but I don't think it was to put himself ahead of the team but to help the team get better.

I really think having a QB coach last year would have been helpful for Heaps (and I think it's something they should look at after firing Weber possibly inviting Reynolds to take a different role in the athletic department).

[stuckinbig10country]

I know you've bought fully into mcgregor's side of the story from his "sources", but pinning it on Bronco before Doman is a bit-thickheaded and ignores the reality of what was going on the in the locker room.

Was that a cheap shot directed at me?

Listen, I stopped trying to sell my story long ago, because I'm not willing to give further details, especially about where it is coming from. I realize that exposes me to ridicule. Just didn't think it would come from you.

BTW, are you aware that at least one reporter was threatened by BYU to have his credentials pulled if he shared some of Riley's and Ogletree's locker room antics? He also thought it wiser to just keep quiet.

I support the team, and I support Riley. Just think he's a horrible QB, and has been somewhat poisonous for the team.

Can't wait for the Taysom Hill era to begin.

What you said about the reporter kind of narrows it down, because most wouldn't care about getting the credential revoked if it meant having a huge story. And I think they might have been bluffing, because Franchuk still has his access even after pushing the Brandon Davies story.

[mormonrasta]

How could an average coach consistently get above average results?

Programs don't go on autopilot, even ones with substantially more talent than their peers. Example, Florida. Florida gets a great coach in Spurrier, they are awesome. A joke of a coach in Zook, not so awesome. A great coach in Meyer, awesome again. Muschamp? We'll see, but the early returns have been underwhelming.

BYU isn't Florida. Not by a long shot. Looking at the Scout.com recruiting rankings from 2003-2009 BYU's average recruiting ranking is about 50 which is sandwiched in between Washington State at #49 and Minnesota at #51.

Is that better talent than most of the teams that BYU plays? Sure. It's been that way for over 30 years, but despite having that better talent we haven't dominated the way Bronco has.

In the two decades prior to Bronco BYU won 65.3% (Lavell 68.3%; Crowton 53.1%) of their games overall. BYU won 74.3% (Lavell 79.1%; Crowton 55.3%) of games against FBS teams that weren't from major conferences or major independents, or in other words programs that had less talent than BYU. BYU won 38.3% (Lavell 36.8%; Crowton 45.5%) of their games vs. major conference teams and major independents.

Since Bronco took over BYU has won 73.1% of their games, 80% against non major teams, and 47.8% against major teams.

Bronco has raised the overall standard of play than what the program has experienced over the last 20 years before him. He does need to do better against the better opponents, especially since our schedules will get tougher. But he has proven he can raise the bar in so many areas he's earned the benefit of the doubt from me that he can raise the bar against great teams and Utah as well.

[Cougarbib]

My sources tell me that it really falls on Bronco for not addressing it and nipping it in the bud sooner, and as a result of waiting, he lost a player, and almost more from this. IN a way, Bronco allowed it to happen because he wanted work ethic to prevail, but it went way too far. A divided locker room is something that should never be allowed to happen.

I think based upon lessons learned, it won't again. It was an experiment went wrong.

Totally agree. Bronco should have told Heaps to show up for informal workouts or expect to sit and then sat him when he did not.

Are you Apo's cousin, neighbor, think everything in Texas is bigger and faster than it is.

At the game, someone commented that Apo is not as tall or athletic or fast as advertised. Another over-hyped player in my book. And Stoudt.

All three may someday be everything they were advertised to be.

Quit worrying about the one or two overhyped players that might pour and leave if the do not get their way - one of them lost the entire team.

Now VanNoy - he has lived up to the hype - exceeded it, so we don't need to look for scapegoats to blame for his lack of performance.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[Cougarbib]

I know you've bought fully into mcgregor's side of the story from his "sources", but pinning it on Bronco before Doman is a bit-thickheaded and ignores the reality of what was going on the in the locker room.

Was that a cheap shot directed at me?

Listen, I stopped trying to sell my story long ago, because I'm not willing to give further details, especially about where it is coming from. I realize that exposes me to ridicule. Just didn't think it would come from you.

BTW, are you aware that at least one reporter was threatened by BYU to have his credentials pulled if he shared some of Riley's and Ogletree's locker room antics? He also thought it wiser to just keep quiet.

I support the team, and I support Riley. Just think he's a horrible QB, and has been somewhat poisonous for the team.

Can't wait for the Taysom Hill era to begin.

What you said about the reporter kind of narrows it down, because most wouldn't care about getting the credential revoked if it meant having a huge story. And I think they might have been bluffing, because Franchuk still has his access even after pushing the Brandon Davies story.

Oh the reporter kept quiet. Just not totally quiet. And there could not possibly be another side to that story.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[Cougarbib]

The only story that I have verified is the story about picking lockers. O'Neil Chambers saved a locker for Heaps right next to him (not Apo, not Stoudt, not Van Noy) because freshmen were the last to pick their lockers. A defensive player took exception to it and ripped the whatever the placeholder was off of the locker, and Riley moved right in to that locker. Heaps never said a word about it, didn't even know it went on until I'm sure it came down through the team.

We all know Heaps only came to 3 of the 63 or so summer workouts between his freshman and soph years. Let's see...during that summer he got married, spent time with his family, and was dealing with his parents divorce. Yet he still worked out. Used a coach in the area he was located so that he could try and get some things done while dealing with some life changing events.

We all know about the infamous Iggy's press conference. This seems to be what got Ogletree all bent out of shape. Heaps was trying to bring what other high profile schools across the country have to BYU in hopes of bringing more talent to Provo. Should he have checked with Bronco before doing that? Probably, but I don't think it was to put himself ahead of the team but to help the team get better.

I really think having a QB coach last year would have been helpful for Heaps (and I think it's something they should look at after firing Weber possibly inviting Reynolds to take a different role in the athletic department).

I wonder if Chambers became less enamored of Heaps - U know - before he emptied Heaps' Locker and took the contents to Bronco and told him "This is the Problem.".

Too bad they did not locker side-by-side. Perhaps Chambers would have done it sooner.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[Cougarbib]

I supported Riley toward the end of last season. Unfortunately, he has been a disappointment. We have no chance against BSU if he plays all 4 quarters...IMO. If he proves me wrong then I'll buy lunch for all CC peeps in Vegas.

This Peep from Las Vegas agrees that our chances in Boise are slim. I won't say none. Longshot. Just as I predicted before the first snap of the season.

Here is why

BSU has only lost 3 games in Boise in recent memory
BSU beat us every time we have played them
BSU, although rebuilding, is well-coached and talented
It is a road game
Our kicking game is poor to mediocre
Our other special teams are inconsistent
Our OL is very inexperienced including CENTER
Poorest overall OL under Bronco
We do not have a legit fullback
We do not have a dominating RB
Our tight end is just beginning to emerge - actually exceeding my expectations for this year
Our offensive coaching staff is still relatively inexperienced
Offense is not the strength of our head coach - but Lavell was a DC too
Our defense is better than usual - but actually less dominating than I expected this year
And our starting QB is Kevin Feterik good - not Jim MxMahon good - not good enough to overcome all of that.
Our back-up QBs have essentially, no experience

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[Metallicat]

How could an average coach consistently get above average results?

Programs don't go on autopilot, even ones with substantially more talent than their peers. Example, Florida. Florida gets a great coach in Spurrier, they are awesome. A joke of a coach in Zook, not so awesome. A great coach in Meyer, awesome again. Muschamp? We'll see, but the early returns have been underwhelming.

BYU isn't Florida. Not by a long shot. Looking at the Scout.com recruiting rankings from 2003-2009 BYU's average recruiting ranking is about 50 which is sandwiched in between Washington State at #49 and Minnesota at #51.

Is that better talent than most of the teams that BYU plays? Sure. It's been that way for over 30 years, but despite having that better talent we haven't dominated the way Bronco has.

In the two decades prior to Bronco BYU won 65.3% (Lavell 68.3%; Crowton 53.1%) of their games overall. BYU won 74.3% (Lavell 79.1%; Crowton 55.3%) of games against FBS teams that weren't from major conferences or major independents, or in other words programs that had less talent than BYU. BYU won 38.3% (Lavell 36.8%; Crowton 45.5%) of their games vs. major conference teams and major independents.

Since Bronco took over BYU has won 73.1% of their games, 80% against non major teams, and 47.8% against major teams.

Bronco has raised the overall standard of play than what the program has experienced over the last 20 years before him. He does need to do better against the better opponents, especially since our schedules will get tougher. But he has proven he can raise the bar in so many areas he's earned the benefit of the doubt from me that he can raise the bar against great teams and Utah as well.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Anyone who thinks a coach who is consistently getting 10 wins and top 25 finishes is a below average coach needs a serious adjustment in perception.

[Ball4]

I supported Riley toward the end of last season. Unfortunately, he has been a disappointment. We have no chance against BSU if he plays all 4 quarters...IMO. If he proves me wrong then I'll buy lunch for all CC peeps in Vegas.

I'm in for lunch. When and where? I can get a discount for you to help a bit at Red Rock